Street trees

Street tree planting

Trees are planted on sidewalks for the beautification of the city and environmental upgrading of suburbia.

1. Trees will be planted in new suburbs in accordance with the relevant tree planting programmes subject to availability and financial constraints. Trees will be maintained for a period of two years.
2. Trees will be planted upon written, telephonic, or personal request if in accordance with 1 above.
3. Residents requesting individual tree planting must undertake to water the tree until it becomes established. The area for tree planting will be investigated to determine the most appropriate tree type, quantity and the position of the trees. This choice will be for the discretion of the General Manager Land and Environmental Planning or delegated official.
4. Upon request from schools trees may be donated if available, from Council Nurseries at the discretion of the: Strategic Executive Director Agriculture and Environmental Management or delegated official.
5. Replacement and individual tree planting will be carried out on a continual as and when basis.
6. The species of trees to be planted in a street is to be decided upon by the relevant: Strategic Executive Director Agriculture and Environmental Management or delegated official.
7. Privately planted trees

Trees are privately planted in this context when a private individual, without consulting with the council, plants it on the pavement or open space belonging to the Council.

Such trees/shrubs, when it has taken root, will be considered as property of the council since it becomes part of the immovable property on council land.

The council maintains the right to request the planter of the tree/shrub to remove it, if it proves to be unsuitably planted-causing a traffic pedestrian, health or an environmental hazard- and if the planter refuses to co-operate such trees /shrubs will be removed without any further notice.

Street tree pruning

At the discretion of the General Manager Land and Environmental Planning trees will be pruned for the following reasons

• Removal of basal suckers, dead and diseased growth;
• Lifting of lower branches for pedestrian flow;
• Pruning of roadside branches to accommodate vehicles;
• Removal of offending branches from robots, road signs and street lights;
• Pruning back to property line;
• Thinning out of superfluous growth;
• Pruning to accommodate overhead power lines;
• All street trees illegally pruned or removed without the consent from the Strategic Executive Director Agriculture and Environmental Management or a designated official will be for the account of the responsible person.

Removal of street trees

No Street trees may be removed unless it is:

• Dead or dying,
• Diseased beyond recovery
• Causes an electrical hazard, or causes non compliance with the relevant sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Causes damage to water or sewage pipes
• Necessary to accommodate Municipal Services provided no alternative route is available
• A proclaimed noxious weed (Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983)

Specifications:

• No planting to be undertaken within 20meters from a traffic intersection.
• No planting to be undertaken within 2 meters of an existing vehicle entrance or an electrical stay-wire support.
• Planting may not be undertaken within 10meters of an existing electrical or street light pole.
• All applications to plant tree must be done through the way leave system.
• Damage to underground services will be for the contractors account
• Trees must be planted 10m or 20m apart and directly opposite each other.
• Position of trees to be marked by clerk of works
• Trees must have a sunken soil basin measuring 6cm.
• Selection of species per street to be done by clerk of works
• Planting hole must be square.
• Holes must be square to the sidewalk
• Trees must be planted in line and should be lined up during the planting process
• Additives like Saturaid and Aquagel can be added
• Use tree planting tablets like Agriform20-10-5in stead of granular fertiliser. 10-15cm from ground level
• When placing the tree in the hole the ground at the bottom of the hole should be made into a heap and the roots placed on top of the heap.
• Bone meal may be added.
• No open holes may be left unattended or overnight.
• Planted trees to be mulched with a suitable medium